Mekugi problem

[jutettsu8]

about the x-ray, it's a good idea, but i don't think i know anyone who would be friendly enough to help me with that and owns a x-ray...

 

 

Jonas D.

[b.hennick]

Hi Jonas:

You might be surprised what happens if you present the problem and ask politely. My family dentist was eager to help. He didn't even charge me for the X-ray picture he took.

[Dr Fox]

Jonas

 

The problem is that although there are some very clever folks on here, its a matter of advising you from photos.

Its a different thing to having the item in hand.

As to worrying about doing damage I agree entirely.

You are the guy on the spot here, but if I were to say anything its this.

The nakago must be protected, but all other coverings can be renewed, so picking away at the wood tsuka would not give me any pain, so slow and steady wins the race!

[jutettsu8]

Okay, i'll try getting the glue off that's smeared around the tsuka and try picking away the wood.

Any tips how i could do that...?

Aaah, i'm such a difficult one...

 

( x-ray when nothing helps)

 

Thank's again

 

 

(really eager to see the nakago)

 

Jonas D.

[jamesicus]

Hi Jonas:

You might be surprised what happens if you present the problem and ask politely. My family dentist was eager to help. He didn't even charge me for the X-ray picture he took.

I agree with Barry Hennick regarding X-ray. If you cannot find a friendly dentist, you can usually locate a local Testing Lab (unless you live in a small town) that will perform an X-ray for a very reasonable fee. At least that was my experience several years ago when I used to have my antique flintlock firearms X-rayed. Unfortunately I can't remember how much I paid then - It probably costs much more now.

 

The advantage of using a testing lab is that they use very sophisticated equipment and employ well trained technicians - also they provide you with a written report. IMO The very best Testing Labs in the US are those that are FAA certified (If there is even a small airport near you there should be at least one such Lab available). Their equipment is required to be meticulously maintained and their technicians fully certified. Here is a report issued by such a facility:

 

 

Edit added: They provide you with the X-ray films also.

 

Of course you may not wish to pursue this type of procedure for your current problem, Jonas, but I thought I would post the information anyway -- it might be especially useful when expensive blades (for instance) are involved -- so please excuse me Jonas.

 

James

[Stephen]

head slap! why not try tapping with a drift, what can it hurt??? picking and picking is only prolong the process, pegs are built to be pushed out, removing the grey will get you more frustrated.

[jutettsu8]

I tried this and it doesn't show any result, it just stays that way...

 

 

Jonas

[hxv]

Jonas,

 

Reluctant to jump it late in the game, but most of the times, the wooden dowel (called the mekugi) is tapered - larger on one end than the other. I would cut off about a 3-in segment of a bamboo chopstick, trim the end to slightly under-size the hole on your sword handle, and start to bang away at the chopstick with a hammer. If that does not drive the mekugi out, then turn the sword handle the other way and start banging it out, as you have no way of knowing which is the bigger end until you try. It that doesn't work, bring out the nuclear bomb.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[jutettsu8]

Ok, until now i've tried a lot of things to get it off( nothing helped, or i just did it wrong), but came to an idea: can i heat the tsuka with a hair dryer to get the glue weak and so take the tsuka apart, or getting the same off?

Really almost nothing i did seemed to work...

 

Jonas

[Geraint]

Hi Jonas.

 

Late to the party but here goes. The tsuka is not of any value as is so perhaps time to regard it as scrap. Hot air will only work if the glue/gunk is going to soften with heat and many things won't. Might be worth trying wrapping the tsuka in a damp rag for a while, protect the blade and tsuba of course. If the glue is animal based chances are this will soften and then you can start by peeling off the same. It should be possible to see a seam in the edge of the tsuka which might be possible to split.

 

Careful but have fun. I do hope for your sake that after all this the results will be exciting.

 

All the best.

[drbvac]

All things considered including the pics of the blade as long as you are banging on, hitting something softer than the metal you can probably not do any damage whatsoever. I would use the plastic type tools for removing auto panels or even cooking stuff and taking the entire tsuka off. The same is not going to be any good in any event, and it does look like the tsuba was painted black?

 

Go at it with whatever will get some results with as little damage as possible - it looks like the sides are painted with body filler or something - strainge and obviously the previous owner had either no idea what he was doing OR - he did know what he had and didn't care what he did

[jutettsu8]

finally after a while i'm back again!

tomorrow i will start breaking it apart!

And any tips on how to break it apart?

(i'm actually even considering doing some polishing on it after i know what's under the tsuka!!!)

Regards,

[Stephen]

Id try lifting off the same first

[Andi B.]

Hi, please disagree but I would use a bench vise and slowly / carefully crack the tsuka...

Is there anything on the tsuka beeing worth to be preserved?

 

If it's clued you might end with "hammer and chisel" which could become dangerous for the blade and nakago...

Therefore I would recommend a "slow" method.

I would try to remove as much wood as possible and then use some kind of solvent to remove the clue...IF it is clued and you really can not find any removable mekugi...

[jutettsu8]

okay so i got most of the same off on one side to see the holes but i found only one candidate-hole
so i tried to get it out but with no result
so now i'm in kind of a pinch here, how can i advance?
 
 
Regards,

 

 

 

 

[jutettsu8]

Finally!!! i 

I succeeded in taking it apart!

Sadly there was glue on the nakago,,,

And i didn't see any signature on first glance,,,

 

(Also any hints on how i could remove the glue?)

[Brian]

Well done. I think it is much better off. And no signature is not a train smash...there are a lot of unsigned decent swords. Yours looks like it was shortened and far better free from its glued on tsuka.

You can maybe try goo-gone or alcohol or even WD40 on the glue. Put a little on, and let it sit. Then carefully chip it off with an ivory or bone sharp piece.

Could have been a lot worse.

 

Brian

[jason_mazzy]

and don't clean the patina off the nakago

[Jamie]

That's a good idea Barry.

[Geraint]

Barry?  And just to say that no attempt to polish the blade would be a good idea in any sense. No, no no.